Self-closing can



(No Model.)

s. 0. MYERS.

SELF CLOSING CAN. No. 444,301. Patented Jan.6, 1891.

VENTOR 0.

W/TN SE8: %/m

UNITED; STATES PATENT FFICE.

STEPHEN OSCAR MYERS, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK.

SELF-CLOSING CAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,301, dated J nuary 6, 1891.

Application filed April 11, 1890. Serial No. 347,574. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN OSCAR MYERS, of Mount Vernon, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Self-Olosin g Can, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved can, which is simple and durable in construction, designed to hold ether, chloroform, and other liquids, and pro- Vided With a selfclosing valve which prevents spilling of the 1iquid,no matter in what condition the can is left.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be hereinafter fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming, a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure l is a sectional side elevation of the improvement, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with parts in section.

The can-body A is made in the usual manner, and is preferably oval in shape, and adapted to be closed by a cover B, in the center of whichis arranged a neck 0, the upper end of which is closed by a threaded cap D, under the head of which is held the leather washer E. The neck 0 extends a short distance into the inside of the can-body A, when the cover 13 is applied, as shown in Fig. 1,

and this inner end of the neck 0 is adapted to be closed by a valve F, provided with an inwardly-extending valve-stem G, having a bent end G fitting into a slot H, formed in one end of an arm H, pivotally connected with a link I, fulcrumed to a lug J, projecting from one end K of a U-shaped plate K, soldered or otherwise secured in its middle to the inside of the cover 13. The other end K of the plate K is provided with a lug L, on which is pivoted a link N, pivotally connected With the link I, midway between the latters fulcrum and its pivotal connection with the arm H, as is plainly shown in Fig. 1. The ends K and K of the U-shaped plate K extend along the inside of the sides of the can-body A, so that when the said sides are pressed at or near the middle, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the ends K and K of the said plate K move toward each other. On the end K is also secured a spring 0, resting with its free end on the under side of the Valve F and serving to hold the latter onto the inner end of the neck 0.

The operation is as follows: When the several parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the operator desires to fill the can-body A with a liquid, he removes the cap D, and then presses the sides of the can-body A, so as to move the ends K and K of the U-shaped plate K inward, whereby the link I swings downward, assisted by the link N, so as to draw on the arm H and the valve-stem G, whereby the valve F is unseated from the inner end of the neck 0. The liquid can now be poured into the can-body A through the open neck 0. When the can has been filled, the operator releases the pressure against the sides of the can-body A, so that the ends K and K with the sides of the can spring back to theirnaturalposition. At the same time the valve F is forced to its seat by the spring 0. The operator then screws the cap D on the outer end of the neck. It will be seen that the can is now securely closed and the liquid cannot escape from the can, no matter in what position it is, as the valve F and the cap D securely close the outlet from the can. \Vhen the operator desires to use the liquid in the can, he removes first the cap D, then holds the can-body with the neck downward, at the same time pressing against the sides of the canbody, so as to open the valve F, in the manner previously described, to permit the liquid to flow out through the open neck 0 to the desired place or position under the outer end of the neck 0. Vhen a sufficient quantity of the liquid has been poured, the operator releases the'pressure on the sides of the can-body, so that the said sides, as well as the ends K and K spring back to their natural position, and the valve F is again closed by the action of the spring 0. I prefer to make the can-body ICO with a spring-pressed valve adapted to close the neck of the can from the inside, of a link pivotally connected with the said valve, a U-shaped plate the ends of which are seated against theinner walls of the can and on'one end of which is pivoted the said link, and a second link pivoted on the other end of the said plate and pivotally connected with the first-named link, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a self-closing can, the combination, with a springpressed valve adapted to close the neck of the can from the inside, of a link pivotal] y connected with the said valve, a U- shaped plate the ends of which are seated on the inner wall of the can and on one end of which is pivoted the said link, a second link pivoted on the other end of the said plate and pivotally connect-ed with the first-named link, and a spring held on the said plate and pressing, on the said valve to force the latter to its seat, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a self-closing can, the combination, with a can-body and acover adapted to close the said can-body and provided with a neck extending to the inside of the can, of a valve adapted to be seated on the inner end of the said neck, a link pivotally connected with the said valve, a U-shaped plate secured to the inside of the said cover, and the ends of which are seated 011 the inner wall of the can, and on one end of which is pivoted the said link, and a second link pivoted on the other end of the said plate and pivotally connected with the said first-named link, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a self-closing can, the combination, with a can-body and a cover adapted to close the said can-body and provided with a neck extending to the inside of the can, of a valve adapted to be seated on the inner end of the said neck, a link pivotally connected with the said valve, a U-shaped plate secured to the inside of the said cover, and the ends of which are seated against the inner walls of the canbody, and on one end off which is pivoted the said link, a second link pivoted on the other end of the said plate and 'pivotally connected with the said first-named link, and a spring held on the said plate and pressing, with its free end on the said valve to seat the same on the neck of the cover, substantially as shown and described.

STE Il'l OSCAR MYERS.

Witnesses:

THEO. G. IIOSTER, G. SEDGWICK. 

